Virgil van Dijk has been a rock of consistency in what has been a turbulent season for Liverpool. While the Reds have faced their share of ups and downs, the Dutch captain has stood tall, proving time and again why he remains one of the most reliable figures at Anfield.

Now, the 34-year-old defender is on the verge of etching his name into the club's history books. If he features against Aston Villa at Villa Park, Van Dijk will break a long-standing record held by Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher.

According to Liverpoolfc.com, Van Dijk has clocked an incredible 4,761 minutes across all competitions this season—the most by any outfield player for the club since Carragher's 4,789 minutes in the 2007-08 campaign. That means if the captain plays just under half an hour against Villa, he'll surpass Carragher's nearly two-decade-old mark.

This is no small feat. In an era where the demands on a modern centre-back are immense—especially in a Liverpool side that has often looked open at the back—Van Dijk's durability and consistency have been nothing short of remarkable. He has already made 53 appearances this season, his highest tally since the 2021/22 campaign when he played 51 times.

Interestingly, Carragher himself recently backed the idea of playing alongside Van Dijk in a modern Liverpool setup, calling him the best centre-back in the Premier League and insisting he'd have "not a problem" partnering him. That debate between two different eras of Liverpool defending is sure to spark plenty of discussion among fans.

And it makes Paul Scholes' recent claim that Van Dijk hasn't been world class over the past two years look even more questionable. While the Dutchman may not be at his absolute peak, he's still setting records and leading by example—proving that class, as they say, is permanent.